A 2014 course by Frederick Schmidt at Garrett-Evangelical Theological Seminary “Explores biblical texts, historical traditions, and modern approaches to the art of spiritual direction/guidance and its place in
the church today; relationship of spiritual direction to counseling, therapy, and mentoring.”
A 2017 course by Jessica Starling examines “acts of self-discipline in a variety of cultural contexts, including Eastern (Jain, Hindu, Buddhist), Western (Stoic, Christian mystic), and modern secular (eco-activism, fasting diets, and extreme exercise regimes)” and through this “various understandings of the self, the body, desire, liberation and virtue.”